Controls
Tweak – This rotary switch engages one of six pre-set EQ resonances that
give an overall “flavor” to the Tweak Fuzz, rolling off the bottom end and
influencing the behavior of the Gain control. Some describe the extreme
settings of the Tweak control like the difference between the brightness of
a bridge pickup and the warmth of a neck pickup – with four in-between
settings. Each of the six frequencies was specifically chosen and voiced to
enhance rich, even harmonics and bring out the most flattering qualities of
your guitar or bass – yes, the Tweak Fuzz also sounds amazing with a bass.
Gain – This knob controls the amount of fuzz, also called square wave clip-
ping distortion. It can go from mildly distorted to all-out fuzz fury. The mild
settings are great for chords and funky rhythm strums. The all-out settings
work best with single note riffs and two-note power chords.
Volume – This knob sets the overall volume to the optimum level. Whether
you want to set it to match the bypassed signal or whether you want a big
boost when you engage your Tweak Fuzz: it’s your decision.
Footswitch – Use this to turn the Tweak Fuzz on or off. When the Tweak
Fuzz is on, the LED indicator is lit. When it’s off, the unit is true-bypassed,
effectively removing the circuit from your guitar’s signal chain. This allows
your guitar’s signal to pass through the Tweak Fuzz without affecting your
tone or gain.
Battery
To make your Tweak Fuzz work, you’ll need to insure that a fresh battery
is installed. If not, you’ll need to install one, or connect a regulated 9V DC
power supply – see below for details.
To replace the battery, simply:
a Make sure your Tweak Fuzz is not connected to a DC Power Supply
(see below).
b Remove the four screws on the underside of the box and disassemble
the chassis.
c Remove the old battery from the clip, if applicable.
d Install a fresh 9 volt alkaline battery, taking care to properly orient the “+”
and “-“ terminals (see Figure 1 for proper battery orientation).
e Reassemble the chassis and replace the screws.
When storing the Tweak Fuzz, or when it is not in use, make sure no cable
or plug is inserted into the “Input” jack, as this will shorten battery life. As
an alternative to a battery, you can use a regulated DC power supply (“wall
wart”) ranging from 9 – 12 volts, for example a Boss
®
# PSA-120T or DOD
®
#PS200R. These are available at electronics supply stores and most music
stores.
Basic Operation
The ¼” mono instrument cable that leaves your guitar’s jack or the effect
immediately before the Tweak Fuzz, plugs into the Tweak Fuzz’ jack marked
“Input.” The cable that exits from the “Output” jack on the Tweak Fuzz goes
to the next effect in the signal chain, or to the amplifier.
When first activating the Tweak Fuzz, start with the Volume and Gain
control knobs in the full counter-clockwise position. Then, start rotating
the knobs clockwise until the desired volume level and fuzz saturation
are achieved. The basic tone of Tweak Fuzz will be familiar to players who
remember the rich, lush, vintage fuzz tones used at the big ‘60s pop
festivals.
Next, rotate the Tweak setting until you find the EQ resonance that best
suits your tonal needs. Then, go back to the Gain control and see how it
interacts with each of the Tweak settings. Experiment with different Tweak
and Gain settings. Some of the coolest tones are achieved with a little
discovery.
The Tweak Fuzz was developed with the help of Blues Saraceno, who has
been using a hand-built version, designed by his father Alex, for some
years. We asked Blues to give us his favorite Tweak Fuzz settings -- the ones
he uses the most on stage and in the studio -- and here’s what he came
back with:
Figure 1
“Old School” Classic Fuzz Tone
• Ultra smooth vintage “classic”
fuzz sound
• Makes single coils super fat
• Works great on bass guitar too
